Meanwhile Danielle had already started work in the new medical Bay, but she wasn't too happy. Canard seemed very angry, and he didn't utter a single word to her this morning. If this was about her suggestion then she can't blame him for being mad. L'Orange was a thief after all.

"What troubles you, Danielle?"

The dolly jumped slightly at the voice, and turned around to see Grin. The latter was now sporting a Special Forces tattoo on his left shoulder, and wearing dark grey military grade boots.

"It was my idea to suggest Duke L'Orange, uh t-the jewel thief. Captain Thunderbeak must be very angry with me, because the Commander took up my suggestion. But maybe he's right..."

"Do not give in so easily."

The cream-colored dolly gazed up at the huge stone-colored drake, with a curious look.

"It is the nature of a good heart to hope. And hope is stronger than fear. If the captain was willing to stand with you after trials, then he is a true friend. True friendship can never be broken."

"I hope you're right…"

Grin gently patted the smaller female on her shoulder, and she smiled gratefully.

As Grin walked down the hall, Danielle decided to clear her mind on the ice. When her shift is over, that is.

20 minutes later, Danielle was skating around the ice, and thinking about what she would say to Canard the next time she saw him. Maybe he'd be calm then but boy, was Canard angry before… Speak of the devil.

There he was, shooting pucks into the net. He had his back to her and was more focused on his targeting. Danielle took a few moments to look at him, and she couldn't help a small smile grow on her beak. "What a handsome drake.' She couldn't help but think. "He won't have you…' Said the voice in her head. 'Not after the way you disregarded his orders like that."

Maybe now was not a good time. Deciding not to bother him, Danielle tried to skate away, but she lost her footing and fell with a thud onto her back. Hearing this, Canard turned around. He sighed at seeing her on the floor, but felt compelled to skate over to her. "You all right?" he asked, offering a hand.

Danielle blushed and shrugged, silently accepting his hand to stand back up. "Thanks. It's ... been a while since I've skated."

"Makes sense," he answered, releasing her hand as soon as she was on her own two feet again. "Not a lot of time for fun these days."

"Yes…' Danielle trailed off, as she shifted her gaze to her shoes. 'Captain, I owe you an apology."

"What for?"

"Well, the Commander did take up my suggestion about L'Orange.' She replied, timidly. 'And you did say I shouldn't tell you what the resistance needs."

Canard let out a curt sigh, but he shrugged it off. "It wasn't your intent, Angelwing."

"Yes sir, but-"

"If the Commander agrees with you, Angelwing, then it's clear that you may be on to something." The captain skated forwards some more, hands on his hips. Danielle flushed at the remark.

"Still,' She replied. 'Is the Commander willing to pardon him just like that?"

"No. He wants to observe L'Orange a bit further before a final decision. And I'd trust his judgement sooner than I'd trust myself."

Danielle let out a small breath of relief, but then looked at him with concern.

"Trust yourself?"

"You know how stubborn and hotheaded I am...Well I-" He trailed off, embarrassed.

"You're a good captain, Sir,' Danielle added quietly, a blush forming under her feathers, 'because you have good intentions, as well."

Canard looked at Danielle, a hint of a smile crossing his beak. Realizing he was showing emotions too openly, he quickly covered it up with a clearing of his throat.

Danielle looked at her shoes. 'i-if you me want to, you know, leave, I understand..."

"Actually, I could use the company.' Canard skated to the side of the rink for another hockey stick. 'besides, I think we both need a chance to lighten up."

Canard tossed the second to Danielle. "Catch." With a slight yelp, Danielle fumbled with the stick before actually holding it. "Y-you don't mind?"

Canard skated up to the net, getting in front of it. "Could practice my defense for a while," he simply answered. Danielle skated a few feet forwards, awkwardly stopping next to the bag of pucks. "Um," she started and paused.

Seeing her hesitancy, Canard stood back up from his crouched position and smiled. "You don't play hockey, do you?"

"...Not as much as I probably should have.' Danielle stated rather nervously. 'I know that everyone and their families plays hockey, but I guess I wasn't one for rough housing."

"It's understandable," Canard shrugged. Danielle placed a few pucks on the ice, got out one, but she hesitated. Canard raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

"But I don't want to hit you..."

"Don't worry about that."

She got into position to hit the puck, stick raised in the air, and hesitated again.

Canard laughed. "Just swing, Angelwing!"

"Okay, okay," she lamented. Repositioning her stance, she shot. The puck sailed wide, Canard watching it hit the wall of the indoor rink.

"Good power, but when you swing down, make sure to keep your head focused on where you want the puck to go."

"Sorry!" Danielle said sheepishly.

"Don't apologize,' Canard replied. 'just keep trying."

Looking at the puck, then at the net, Danielle made another hit. The puck flew at the net then bounced off the post, flying toward the other post, nearly grazing Canard's backside.

The captain wasn't fazed in the least. "Better!" he called. "Again!"

Danielle took a deep breath, pulling a few more pucks out of the bag with her stick. She lined three up in a row, watching as Canard crouched into a readied stance.

Quickly but precisely, she hit each puck-one after the other-making sure to watch where she was aiming. The first one clinked the post, but the second one was net-worthy. Canard was equally fast, though, and deflected it with his hockey stick. The third puck, however, whizzed right by his foot and sailed into the net.

"Yes!"

Danielle held her arms up in triumph, before remembering who she was with.

Canard laughed, skating up to her. "Nice shots," he complimented.

"T-thanks...I guess." Danielle replied.

"Oh, come on.' Canard insisted. 'you did good. And-Woah!" Suddenly he tripped over one of his blades, and flopped onto his belly.

Danielle gasped. "Oh! A-are you alright?" She was about to kneel down, when Canard pushed himself back up. "I'm fine." He grumbled, very annoyed by that little slip up.

The female duck was trying not to laugh, but a few giggles escaped her beak. The male noticed this, and looked at her. Then Canard came at her.

"Laugh at me, will you?!"

With a small scream, Danielle dodged him and tried to run, but Canard quickly grabbed her by her waist. She squealed as they ended up twirling on the ice from the sudden movements. "I'm sorry, but for the college hockey star to trip like that-!" she laughed some more when he used his grip on her to tickle her.

"It's not like this ice is very smooth!" he said defiantly. "I don't even think we have a working Zamboni machine!"

Her laugh was infectious from his tickling, and his own laughter made his grip falter. Just as she managed to pull away from him, he grabbed a hold of her arm, forcing her to skate back towards him and bump into his chest.

And before either of them could make heads or tails of the gaze they gave one another, a snowball pelted Canard in the side of the head.

"HEY!" he yelled to no one in particular. Danielle looked over in surprise at Greybeak and Wally, watching them from the sidelines. Greybeak was doubled over in laughter, but Wally had another snowball lined up and threw it.

Danielle ducked in time, but unfortunately Canard was behind her and did not. "AGH!" he cried as it hit him square in the beak. "WALLY!"

"Run!" Wally squeaked, hightailing it out of there with Greybeak following close behind.